A/N: This is my first fanfic. Its going to be Zutara, Blutara, and a tiny bit of Kataang.

"Are you guys sure this is a good idea?" Aang said with doubt high in his voice.

"I think Twinkle Toes is right." Toph agreed.

"C'mon you guys! It's a MASKED ball. MASKED. No one will figure out it's us. Even if they do, we're Team Avatar!" He put his arm around Suki. "We knocked fire nation heads off before. We can handle 'em." Sokka persisted.

"For once, I agree with Sokka. We've been training for weeks. We need a little fun." Katara chimed in.

"There's nothing fun about a bunch of spoiled fire nation teenagers arguing about who's family is richer. Trust me, I've been to plenty." Zuko said with his back on the against the trunk of a tree, hair in his face.

"Well this... or we can go to the play about us again?" Sokka suggested with a hint of sarcasm.

The group was silent, except Aang who spoke up quickly on that note.

"I'm gonna go find a mask!"

"I kinda liked the play, I think it really captured our true selves." Toph said with a sly smile.

"So agreed we're going to the ball?" Katara asked.

"Yeah... well... I guess... there's nothing better to do..." The group murmured.

"One problem." Zuko finally spoke up. "We're not going to pass for high class Fire Nation teenagers in these rags" He pulled on his red robe as evidence.

The gaang looked down at their tattered wardrobe. After they nearly escaped the failed invasion, and plenty of other run-ins with the enemy, their clothes were grungy. Not to mention the smell, which after a while, they grew accustomed to.

"We don't have enough money do buy all of us new clothes for a ball!" Sokka exclaimed.

"Well we can always do what we did last time..." Aang said with a shy smile.

And that was that. They picked out clothing that had been left to dry. One by one they ran bobbing and weaving between the lines of clothes. Zooming in on their favorite article, they each snatched their own something special to wear and caught up to each other on the other side of the field.

While they were showing off and admiring what each of them had taken, Katara emerged from the bushes, holding her usual Fire Nation outfit in hand.

"What do you guys think? Do I look like a 'snobby firebender'?"

All eyes were on Katara. She had a red sleeveless gown, accented with gold lace along the top. Gold silk wrapped around her small waist and the dress ruffled like soft ruby waves until it reached the bottom and puddled around her feet.

"It looks... um... nice Katara... you'll fit in well" Aang said rubbing the back of his neck and blushing at the all too familiar situation.

As for Zuko, his gaze was locked and could not be broken from the young waterbender. She looked so beautiful, he couldn't find the words to say to her. Of course, he noticed this trait before, but not with this intensity. He didn't think he had ever seen her look so stunning. All he could manage was a, "Er, um... you look... um very great?" He wanted to melt into his shoes at his stupidity! He was a Prince for Agni's sake! He dealt with beautiful women all the time! Wait did he just refer to Katara as a woman?

Katara's cheeks heated up when she saw Zuko's face. Aang, she was used to, but Zuko? Zuko the indifferent firebender who never showed any emotion except anger was blushing? She made a mental note to take advantage of men the next time she encountered these types of situations. She chuckled at the thought.

Zuko began to get even angrier. Was she laughing at him? He turned his back on the group and stormed off into the bush, murmuring curses to himself.

"What's his problem?" Blurted Suki.

Once they were dressed, the gaang gathered in the middle of the old summer house. The bright orange sun was beginning to set, contrasting to the array of purple, pink, and various pastel colors that gently blended together in the sky, then collided with the dark blue sea at the horizon.

"Well alright! We look pretty good!" Sokka marveled at how they all seemed to pull themselves together. Even if was just for one night. "Is it hot in here...? No, it's just us" He said with a wide grin and a pleading look that said 'please laugh'. Suki couldn't help but giggle.

Katara rolled her eyes as he carried on with his oh-so-Sokka behavior. But she admitted it to herself that they did pull together nicely. She glanced from person to person. Toph always managed to scrub away the dirt and grime away, but only when it was absolutely necessary. Suki looked strange wearing a dress without her warrior makeup. She did look very nice though, and she could tell Sokka thought so too. The boys were all dressed alike; red elabroate robes with different shaded layers, black boots, top knots. Aang was the only one who stood out with his yellow zig-zag pattern hat. He saw her looking at him and his big gray eyes shined up at her, taking in every inch of her face. She couldn't help but think of the kiss a few days ago. It wasn't her fault she humiliated him! She said she was confused and he kissed her anyway. For twelve years old, he was a remarkably good kisser. She wondered if he had any practice before her...

Aang looked up saw those big beautiful blue eyes. He just wanted to dive right in and tell her how much he loved her. He just wanted to take her and fly off into the night, forgetting about the battle that lay ahead. Oh how he loved those lips, those sweet tender lips. Every time their lips met, the world around them ceased to exist. It was just them. No one else. He let his eyes wander down her dress, admiring the way it clung to her breasts and waist and seemingly just gave up and fell loose to her feet. He promised himself he'd make sure to dance with her tonight. He didn't care if he had to pry someone off of her. And he had an inkling about who this someone might be when he saw Zuko staring at her from across the room.

She was so beautiful, breathtakingly beautiful. He just stood there in awe realizing that he never noticed this before. He it was like she was standing in entire new light. She was no longer the young girl Zuko always assumed she was. She was still Katara, but her name took on an new meaning. The way Katara sounded was entirely different as he repeated it to himself in his head. He wondered if she shared the strange new attraction. He sure hoped so. But what could become of it? The banished Fire Nation prince and the master Water Tribe peasant? He was almost positive something was between her and Aang anyway. C'mon. Get real Zuko. He shook the thought from his head. For now he would just have to admire from afar. For now.

Sokka woke them from their trance state. "Okay you guys, as master planner, I have to remind you that we have over looked one little detail."

"What?" Toph asked

"Masks" He replied. "It is a masked ball, plus we need disguises. So we need some masks."

"I'm sure we could pick some up from a local store. This is an event for all of Ember Island." Katara responded.

"Alright." Sokka handed them each one silver piece. "Let's meet back here in one hour-"

"Or..." Suki cut in, "We could just get our masks and go straight to the ball. It could be a game. We won't know what anybody looks like, and then when we get back, we have to guess who everyone was!"

"Hey! That's not fair!" Toph waved a hand in front of her face.

"Oh right... um Toph you could guess what type of shoes people are wearing...?" Suki suggested with a half smile.

"Hmph. Fine. Fair enough"

A/N: Well, I hope you guys like the beginning! I know its short, but I already have the next three chapters written. The writing just gets better and better if I say so myself ;) I'm thinking 12 chaps? Maybe...? Idk. PLEASE Review... I need some encouragement and to know people are actually reading this!